Two men critical after stabbing incident in Dublin

GARDAÍ HAVE appealed for help in connection with an incident in Dublin in which two men suffered serious injuries on Saturday evening.

The two men, both Polish nationals aged in their late 20s, were involved in an altercation with three other people minutes after leaving their house in Benbulben Road, Drimnagh.

They received serious stab wounds to the head and were taken to St James's Hospital where their condition was described yesterday as critical.

The altercation took place shortly before 7pm and gardaí are investigating whether all five involved were previously known to one another. They are also investigating whether there was any racial motive involved.

Gardaí sealed off an extensive section of Benbulben Road for forensic examination on Saturday night amid local reports that scuffles had taken place over a distance of some 100 metres.

Garda sources said a potentially large number of people may have seen the clashes, given the time of the incident, which was shortly before the start of Mass at the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel on Mourne Road.

Gardaí appealed for Mass-goers and anyone who was in the area at the time and who may have seen the scuffles, to come forward.

A spokeswoman for Sundrive Road Garda station was unable to say if gardaí had interviewed anyone in connection with the attack and calls were referred to the Garda Press Office. It said it could not add anything to the information already released.

The press office added that anyone who was a witness should contact gardaí at Sundrive Road on 01-666 6600 or the Garda Confidential phone number at 1800 666111.

The Polish Information and Cultural Community in Dublin has estimated that some 200,000 Poles are working in Ireland.